THE GRACE AND PACE OF GOD’S KINGDOM

Matthew uses the Kingdom of Heaven as a synonym for the Kingdom of God. The reason is to accommodate his Jewish listeners in avoiding using the Name of God in vain to prevent transgressing the third commandment. Kingdom of Heaven constitutes the central theme in the Gospel of Matthew. He emphasises the new dispensation where the kingship of God in Christ Jesus becomes a reality in all aspects life. We are invited to become co-workers in establishing his Kingdom. But his Kingdom is totally different and can’t be compared to any existing government. For this reason Jesus uses parables to convey the unique characteristics of his Kingdom. The way to live in and to establish God’s Kingdom entails different norms and values. It expects of the followers a new way of conduct. Everything must be done in humility and with grace and kindness and therefore Jesus share with us the parable of the weeds among the wheat in Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43. He also wants to teach us the spiritual discipline of ‘waiting on God’.

The Greek word for weed which is used by Matthew is a very special kind of weed (zizania). It is ‘darnell grass’ and it is not a familiar type of weed for us in South Africa. In the Middle East and North Africa this type of weed is more familiar among the wheat farmers. The specific feature of darnell grass is that it looks like a wheat plant when it’s still growing. Therefore it would be unwise to try and pull it out before it’s a grown plant – the risk being that the real wheat plant will be destroyed. It is only when seeds are form that the difference between wheat and darnell grass can be established.

The weeds must be tolerated to show the loving, caring, and graceful heart of God the Farmer. The followers of Jesus have difficulty with his “soft” approach where love plays a more important role than power, judgement, and requital most people expected of Jesus. There has been a general expectation that the “true Messiah” will establish his authority through law and order and would not tolerate any nonsense from anybody. We have to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that we would like to see more power and force in churches to “encourage” people to change their lifestyles. Church members would secretly enjoy witnessing how weeds are being pulled out and destroyed, because “sin can’t be tolerated”. We are challenged by this parable to realize the weed in our own lives and to recognize the evil in our own hearts. It is then when we will acknowledge the need for grace for ourselves and will be able to grant it for everybody else. We have to adapt to an expectation that all weed has the potential to become wheat. Change is possible at the rate and pace God allows for it.

The secret of the Kingdom of Heaven lies in the integrity of Jesus and to follow his lead and to belong to Him. It is possible to leave all judgement to God. It is also possible to embrace his wonderful love, patience, and grace and to thank Him deeply for being kind and generous and fair. We can be co-workers to establish the Kingdom of Heaven if we show grace and be patient with each other. Remember God is not finished with us yet, therefore we have to allow the process of growth to continue in the lives of others.

How tolerant are you in allowing people to make mistakes? Do you trust the process of spiritual growth as a gift from God? Can you allow change to happen at God’s pace?